SPLASH!Without warning, a massive, log-like shape detonated from the surface of the black pool, cutting through the air toward his head.Fast!Arthur reacted on pure instinct, bringing Kim’s claymore up in a hard defensive parry to strike the lunging mass away.CLANG!The concussive impact rattled his arms, and his eyes widened in shock.The steel blade of Kim’s claymore shattered into jagged fragments, the broken tip clattering uselessly onto the concrete floor.Arthur scrambled back, creating distance.The lunging shape—a massive serpent with a body as thick as an ancient oak—retreated slightly after the parry, coiling its shimmering blue mass on the far side of the platform while locking its slit-pupil eyes onto him.> [Ruler of the Swamp: Poison-Fanged Blue Kasaka]The orange title hovering above the serpent’s head indicated a threat level vastly superior to the white-named mobs above.Even with mana reinforcing the steel, the blade shattered on impact…Arthur swallowed nervously

At that exact moment, Arthur was already two blocks away, walking casually toward his apartment. The second the Golem began to collapse, he had turned on his heel and melted into the shadows.He knew he was the one who had brought down the boss.Under Association law, the harvesting rights and financial bounty of a slain beast belonged to whoever delivered the killing blow. If he wanted to, he could step forward and claim the payout.But trying to explain how an E-Rank rookie killed a high-defense construct with a broken sword would be an absolute nightmare.No one would believe that “Humanity’s Weakest Weapon” had single-handedly pulverized a Golem. He lacked official documentation, and revealing his newly gained power would draw intense government and corporate scrutiny.The soldier’s testimony and a broken hilt weren’t worth the mountain of headaches that would follow.More importantly, he had far too much to lose.The ability to level up was a singular, unprecedented secret. Revea

Arthur took less than a minute to grab his gear, sprinted down to the curb, caught a taxi, and headed straight to the meeting point. Nine people were already assembled on the sidewalk, waiting for his arrival.The stocky, heavily built man who appeared to be the raid leader raised a hand, waving Arthur over."Over here, man!"The man possessed a thick, dark beard and a wide, imposing physique. He offered a warm, relaxed smile as he stepped forward to greet Arthur."You must be Arthur Pendelton?""That's me.""Glad you made it on short notice. Since we're going to be working together, let's do a quick round of introductions before we head through the threshold."The bearded man briefly introduced the members of the raid squad.The eight of them—including himself—were a permanent, private freelance team that regularly cleared low-to-mid-tier Rifts together. The ninth guy standing off to the side was another fill-in hired strictly to meet the municipal headcount requirement, just like Ar

Even while the giant subterranean beetles snapped and bit at his armor with terrifying aggression, Derek Vance remained completely static, waiting for the optimal moment to signal his damage dealers.He held the line with brutal discipline, ensuring the horde's aggression wouldn't shift away from his shield even when the damage dealers began landing lethal blows.*This threshold should be enough!*With that tactical confirmation, the true clearance began—the reason Awakened fighters were called Hunters in the first place.Derek roared over the screeching swarm: "ALL UNITS, OPEN FIRE!"With that brief, commanding shout, the squad unleashed their accumulated offensive firepower onto the trapped insect horde.*KIIII---EEEEEECHHK!**KIIEEHHKK!!*The shrill, agonizing screeches of dying beetles echoed off the damp stone walls as spells and heavy steel tore through chitin.Arthur stood near the rear of the cavern, watching the engagement unfold in silence. That was his contractual role for

When the squad prepared to exit the Boss chamber simultaneously, Victor Vance looked thoroughly bewildered and quickly called out to them."Wait, are you telling me and Arthur to stay behind in the Boss chamber alone?"Derek Vance offered a calm, reassuring smile, his tone pleasant. "The entity hasn't even stirred, despite all our noise. Nothing is going to happen while we're gone. Besides, I need to have a quick word with my boys outside and grab a quick smoke break. Don't worry, it won't take long."Arthur listened to Derek's detailed explanation, letting out a cold, silent laugh internally.*You've finally dropped the mask.* Leaving both of them behind in a sealed chamber... The freelance squad was dismissing them completely because of their low Ranks and apparent helplessness.Arthur had been clearing dungeons for four years. During that time, he had crossed paths with dozens of mercenary Hunters, including a weathered veteran named Mr. Miller.Miller, a retired freelancer who occ